----* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation:** Is Adam Malkovich a truly good, noble man who cares about Samus or an abusive {{Jerkass}} who actively tries to demean her? If the latter, was he always or just after she left his team?** Did the SA-X [[spoiler:ignore Samus for the Omega Metroid due to sheer instinct]]? Or did it [[spoiler:develop its assimilated human emotions to the point of wanting to save Samus for being such a WorthyOpponent]]?** Some believe that [[spoiler:Phaaze was simply a massive parasitic lifeform, without the sentience to understand the detrimental effects of its reproductive cycle, and that Dark Samus, which was actually a [[TitleDrop Metroid Prime]] that assimilated Samus's Phazon suit, enslaved it.]]** Was the Metroid baby in ''Super Metroid'' sorry for attacking its "mother", or acting under instinct?* AnticlimaxBoss: ** The [[spoiler:Omega Metroid]] in ''Fusion''; not only is it nowhere near the hardest boss in the game, it isn't even as hard as its previous appearances in ''Metroid II''. However, it's arguable whether it counts as the final boss; most fans believe that the SA-X is the true final boss, and [[spoiler:the Omega Metroid is just designed to be one last challenge before you escape the station]].** Kraid in ''Super'' could be taken out with four well-timed super missiles before he even finished rising up from the ground. Ostensibly a glitch, Kraid can be defeated in little time even without it by a seasoned player.** And the Ridley Robot in ''Zero Mission'', who is incredibly easy. He gets more challenging, however, if you've gotten 100% of the items, or if you're doing a 15% item run.* ArcFatigue: A major criticism of the series post-''Fusion'' is that Nintendo has seemingly refused to continue the story past said game, despite ending on a note that [[spoiler:there is a conspiracy within the Federation to weaponize Metroids]]. Every ''Metroid'' title released since then has been either a remake or an interquel. Despite most of the games released since being well-received, many fans are tearing their hair out waiting for an actual continuation past ''Fusion''.* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: [[AwesomeMusic/{{Metroid}} Has its own page]].* BadassDecay: ** Samus went through a stage of this in ''Other M'', chronologically the second-to-last ''Metroid'' game to date. Though she has faced countless numbers of threats and monsters that others would not dare face, the repercussions of ''Super Metroid'' (namely witnessing the baby Metroid die) left her more emotionally vulnerable and inclined to take orders from superiors. This culminated into a controversial scene where she suffers a [[HeroicBSOD Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder]] upon seeing the cloned Ridley despite defeating him multiple times beforehand without fear. Chronologically though, she gets over it after the game's events and [[HesBack is back to her old self]] in ''Fusion'', even developing a distrust for Federation authority. Release-wise, Samus is back to being badass in the ''Metroid II'' remake ''Samus Returns''** As far as the bosses go, Kraid. He went from being the hardest boss in ''VideoGame/Metroid1'', to being one of Mother Brain's four commanding officers in ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'', to being the first boss in ''VideoGame/MetroidZeroMission'', to never even being mentioned again outside of Metroid Prime's instruction manual.* BaseBreakingCharacter:** Samus' portrayal in ''Other M''. While widely reviled among the larger ''Metroid'' fandom, some fans appreciated the character development, and a few female fans found her to be relatable.** Samus' Zero Suit, which ended up turning her into more of a MsFanservice through the years. some people appreciate the fanservice and/or find that the Zero Suit makes Samus seem more "human" and relatable, while others claim that [[http://feitclub.tumblr.com/post/85601345234/there-is-a-world-of-difference-between-tee-hee it ruined her character and undermined her reputation as a non-objectified strong female protagonist]]. In particular, ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' essentially turned Zero Suit Samus into her own entity and cranked her fanservice elements UpToEleven, causing even more heated debate on how it affected Samus' image.** Adam Malkovich, in large part due to being the face of the controversial authorization mechanic, Samus' questionable role model, and for [[spoiler:shooting Samus in the back with a Metroid hovering right above]]. That said, some feel like he was given a raw deal with ''Other M'' and his character in the manga is more balanced, interesting, and friendly with Samus. That [[VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy other canon]] was ignored in that game leaves some room for redemption.* BestBossEver: [[AwesomeBosses/{{Metroid}} Also has its own page.]]* BestKnownForTheFanservice: Some fans of [[MsFanservice Zero Suit Samus]] in ''VidoeGame/SuperSmashBros'' become interested in ''Metroid'' expecting to see more fanservice, and are often disappointed when Samus spends most of her games in her face- and body-obscuring Power Suit (a point that is frequently ''praised'' by other fans). ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'' milked the Zero Suit's fanservice nature for all its worth, and (like many other aspects of the game) was heavily criticized by fans.* BrokenBase: ** Which is the best game in the series: ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' or ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime''?** The topic of how Samus should look outside of her suit is a loaded one. It largely comes down to those who like her design from the first ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' game more and those who prefer her more standard design. There are also debates about her height or how muscular she should be.* CounterpartComparison: ** The ''Metroid'' series has often been compared to ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'', Nintendo's other major Action-Adventure franchise. Both star a blonde (or SuddenlyBlonde) protagonist who is traditionally a HeroicMime (though Samus has been known to talk at length), and both series started as pure science fiction and fantasy but started veering into their own flavors of ScienceFantasy with their UsefulNotes/NintendoGamecube installments (''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'' respectively). ''Metroid'' has a strong sense of continuity between games, while ''Zelda'' has used centuries-long {{Time Skip}}s and alternate timelines to help keep each game mostly standalone. Both franchises even have their own races of BirdPeople, but while the Chozo from ''Metroid'' are a technologically advanced and highly mystical race who make up for having evolved away their wings by wearing PoweredArmor with NotQuiteFlight, the Rito of ''Zelda'' are among the more low-tech races of Hyrule who are also pretty mundane and down-to-earth barring their ability to fly with their wings.** The series has also drawn thematic, visual and aesthetic comparisons to Western sci-fi franchises. The franchise was directly inspired by ''Film/Alien'' tonally and aesthetically, and has various creatures that resemble xenomorphs. Samus is a loose {{expy}} of Ellen Ripley, but she looks like she walked out of ''Franchise/StarWars'', and is a gadget-laden armored BountyHunter with a personal CoolShip similar to Boba Fett. * CultClassic: Most people know Samus as one of the cooler fighters in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'', but fewer people know her as the protagonist of one of Nintendo's most acclaimed series. Most ''Metroid'' games have sold reasonably well, but were often overshadowed by the success of other games (such as ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry'' for ''Super Metroid'' and ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' for the VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy); however, almost all of them have gotten consistently high praise, and ''Super'' and ''Prime'' in particular are considered to be among the finest games of all time.* DemonicSpiders: The Metroids themselves (though the base forms are A LOT weaker in the Prime trilogy). In the 2-D games, they inflict massive amounts of damage, and the only way to kill them is by freezing them with the ice-beam and repeatedly blasting them with missiles. While they're a lot weaker in the Prime trilogy, the Fission Metroid in the first game are this, they take a lot of damage, and then split into other Fisson Metroids that only take damage from a certain beam, which is really bad when see the ones that only take damage from the ice beam due to its low rate of fire.* EnsembleDarkhorse:** Rundas from ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3'' and Sylux from ''Metroid Prime Hunters'' (the [[spoiler:appearance of a ship that looks like the Delano 7 (later confirmed as such) in the 100% ending of ''Corruption'']] may have been a nod to Sylux's popularity) are quite popular thanks to being awesome bounty hunters, one being a ProudWarriorRaceGuy and the other being a fountain for EpilepticTrees. Rundas is more popular because he was once Samus' ally before being brainwashed and takes out a bunch of Space pirates before his battle.** Kraid is fairly well-liked despite being a minor boss with only three appearances to his name. His Kaiju-like design from ''Super Metroid'' helps due to being an epic display of the game's SequelEscalation.** Anthony Higgs from ''Other M'' is the most well-liked character in the game due to being more friendly to Samus than Adam and subverting many of the tropes associated with a TokenMinority.** Samus' green-haired "Justin Bailey" suitless look. Despite only appearing as an EasterEgg in the first game, it has a lot of fans who bring it to life through cosplay and fanart, and some people prefer it to the Zero Suit. It even made a return in ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns''.* EpilepticTrees:** In ''Fusion'', the extent to which Samus absorbs the X is only vaguely hinted at. Thus, it's unclear as to whether she's absorbing their DNA, or just their energy.*** Another interpretation- Metroids absorb energy. Samus is imbued with Metroid DNA. Therefore, Samus is absorbing energy.** It's believed that the Ing are a form of semi-solidified Phazon. This is supported by the appearance of the Phaze-Ing in ''Prime 3'', which is basically a blue Inglet. This could very well be untrue, though, as it raises a lot of other questions, (like why Phazon kills most Ing).*** Though it's worth noting that Phazon beings are by nature highly vulnerable to weaponized Phazon, so the Ing's vulnerability to exploding Phazon containers may be justified.** Almost nothing is known for certain about Sylux, except that it hates both Samus and the Federation. Fertile ground for the trees right there, including that it is female.[[note]]Scan visor logs indicate Sylux as male, but this may simply be an assumption.[[/note]]** Nobody really knows what Kraid is or what his actual connection with the Space Pirates is, beyond being a high-ranking member, but everyone sure loves to speculate. Pre-''Zero Mission,'' a lot of them focused on whether he grew or was enhanced between the original game and ''Super Metroid,'' because he went from being tiny to being huge.** The identity of the dead soldier lying outside Kraid's room in ''Super Metroid''. The body's purpose is to this day unknown, and has prompted much discussion and speculation over who it was, what faction it was with, and why it was there. Theories abound among fans, with claims that it could be anyone from ExpandedUniverse bounty hunter Armstrong Houston to Weavel (from ''Prime Hunters''). It doesn't help matters that the soldier is the only human-looking sprite left on Zebes.* EvenBetterSequel: ''Metroid'' [[TropeMaker basically created the modern]] {{Metroidvania}} genre, and ''Metroid 2'' wasn't exactly bad, either, but it wasn't until ''Super Metroid'' [[TropeCodifier that things]] ''really'' [[{{Awesome/Metroid}} got swinging]].* FandomHeresy: Criticizing ''Super Metroid''. It's unanimously considered a landmark game and a masterpiece of level design and craftsmanship by fans and critics alike, and is often considered the best game in the entire series (and, over two decades later, still ''one of the greatest video games ever made''). If you go after it, prepare to get a whoopin'. ** The first ''Metroid Prime'' is another game that's considered risky to criticize, since it's often considered to be in the same league as ''Super Metroid'' in quality.** If you say that you liked ''Other M'' or even go as far as to say it was your favorite in the series, expect a few eyebrows to raise, and maybe [[{{Understatement}} a fight to break out]]. This becomes exaggerated to the point that even if the discussion was based around potential gameplay improvements, detractors would shout them down.* FanonDiscontinuity: ** ''Other M'' is often treated this way, mainly due to Samus supposedly suffering from BadassDecay according to detractors, but also for several other elements, such as the convoluted reincarnation of Ridley. This case also doubles over with the manga, as ''Other M'' considers it canon, contradicts it AND rehashes plot points from it at the same time.** There is a Metroid manga that is supposedly canon, but is ignored even by many who bothered [[NoExportForYou to look it up]] in the first place. Not helping is that it isn't entirely consistent with the games and their generally minimal story.* FranchiseOriginalSin: The ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' series has always had a very confused and complicated relationship with its ActionGirl heroine, Samus Aran. Following ''[[Videogame/MetroidOtherM Other M]]'', many detractors have claimed that Samus has been forever tarnished as a lead due to the {{Chickification}}, [[FanservicePack increased sexualization]], and infantilization of the character (to the point that ''Other M'' literally had her regress back into a child during a [[TraumaButton PTSD Trigger]]). Examining the series as a whole, though, Samus was sexualized as early as the first game, was placed into a "motherly" role in the second and third games, and was further sexualized in ''Zero Mission'' and ''Videogame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl''. Not to mention that ''[[Videogame/MetroidFusion Fusion]]'' took away some of her agency and had her taking orders from a "male" commanding officer.\\\\What makes ''Other M'' different, according to some critics, is that these other games only had maybe one or two of these problems and they were {{Downplayed Trope}}s for the most part. ''Other M'' ''had them ALL at once'' and many of them were front-and-center and treated as vital to Samus's identity and character in ways that they never had been before. This is further compounded by the ''[[Manga/{{Metroid}} Metroid manga]]'', which portrayed Samus in much the same way--but during a point in her life when she was a HotBlooded FormerTeenRebel. She's portrayed as growing up and maturing by the end of said manga, which means even some people who knew about Samus's insecure side felt that the character regression ruined her.* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: Much of this Japanese series' fanbase is based in America, which might be why the 3D revival of the series was given to an American development studio. In fact, ''Other M'' was designed mostly to get Japanese players interested in the series by appealing to Japanese gamer tastes; not only did it not work, but their efforts came at the cost of losing a good part of the (much larger) American fanbase.* GoddamnedBats: Mellows and Weavers in Brinstar, and pretty much any lava enemy in Norfair. [[PersonalSpaceInvader The titular enemies]], however, skip right over this into DemonicSpider territory.** In ''Fusion,'' the winner goes to the species of X-infected Ki-Hunters. They're quite quick, contact damage with them takes about 50 energy, and their stinging attack takes a way ''a full energy tank.'' They're also found right before and after you have to flee from a super powerful SA-X, causing frustration for anyone who gets unlucky and isn't able to reach a save spot in time.* GoodBadBugs: "This is an Elite Space Pirate. Elite Space Pirate Description 3."* GrowingTheBeard: While ''Metroid'' and ''Metroid II: Return of Samus'' were perfectly good games, ''Super Metroid'' improved absolutely everything, set the standard for all {{Metroidvania}} games in the future and is now regarded as one of the finest games in history.* HilariousInHindsight: You know all those people [[IAmNotShazam who've mistakenly called Samus "Metroid"?]] With the {{Retcon}} that the word is a Chozo word meaning "ultimate warrior", as well as her TransHuman infusion with Metroid DNA at the beginning of ''Fusion'', they're technically correct.* IAmNotShazam: A somewhat common outsider mistake is to call Samus "Metroid"; the Metroids are a race of aliens that she hunts.* InternetBackdraft: The Zero Suit alone has sparked discussions and flame wars about whether or not Nintendo over-sexualises Samus. Whether your definition of {{Stripperific}} extends to LatexSpaceSuit or goes to AbsoluteCleavage and ThongOfShielding will determine your standing.* ItWasHisSled: When the original game first came out, many players were shocked to discover that SamusIsAGirl. Not so much anymore, in large part because one of the original reasons ''why'' it was originally so shocking (''a girl protagonist in a video game?!'') is [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny pretty pat nowadays]].** Also, Samus suffers sudden shell shock against Ridley in Other M.* LGBTFanbase: ** Samus, as a strong, badass and sexy heroine, attracts a lot of queer women for being a character they can look up to as a role model ''and'' find highly attractive. ** Samus also has a sizable fanbase of transgender women (including Azima Khan, one of the artists for ''VideoGame/AnotherMetroid2Remake''), for having a stereotypically [[RatedMForManly manly]] character archetype and Power Suit design but also for her [[LadyOfWar beauty and grace]] underneath the armor, along with the whole SamusIsAGirl thing going on. For a time, there was even [[EpilepticTrees a theory going around]] about [[https://www.themarysue.com/metroids-samus-aran-transgender-woman/ Samus being transgender herself]].** The ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' depiction of Zero Suit Samus takes this even further due to a higher {{camp}} factor and [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation implied]] flirtatiousness, along with the ridiculous Jet Boots similar to the high heels used by many {{Drag Queen}}s and burlesque performers.* LesYay: It was clearly supposed to be a way of keeping the game's twist, but a Japanese-only strategy guide had Samus surrounded by two girls in bikinis.* MemeticBadass: Samus, as evidenced by her [[RedBaron nickname]] on this very site: The Intergalactic Queen of Badass.** Also, Admiral Castor Dane, in part due to a scene where it seems he's standing in the Urtagian acid rain, which is strong enough to kill well-armored Samus in a few seconds, with no protection[[note]]The flagship above him probably acts as an umbrella, but you still have to wonder if ''some'' rain gets around it. Also, ''he's using a spaceship as an umbrella''.[[/note]].*** Dane's [[NiceHat hat]] is a MemeticBadass in its own right, as well.* MemeticMutation:** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzEKTcEf_Mo "REMEBEH ME??!?!?"]] After the trailer was released, it took about .372 seconds for "Mysterious Black Guy" to become a meme.** TUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUBES!** And don't forget that Science Team has vapor for brains.** [[VideoGame/MetroidPrime "That seems inefficient"]]** [[LegoGenetics Feather pubes]]** People [[ObfuscatingStupidity feigning stupidity]] and pretending to think that Varia Suit Samus is [[ProtagonistTitle a man named Metroid]], while Zero Suit Samus is his girlfriend Samus.* MisBlamed:** At one point, Yoshio Sakamoto gave an interview with Kotaku where he said that he initially wanted ''Other M'' to be "on-rails." What he ''meant'' by on-rails was "on a 2D sidescrolling plane." What the article gave the ''impression'' of with what he said, however, was "RailShooter." Unfortunately, the misinformation spread like wildfire, and fans were up in arms over how Sakamoto was trying to [[IncrediblyLamePun derail]] the series with an unneeded GenreShift. The uproar dissipated once Sakamoto was able to clarify what exactly he meant.** Sakamoto is often criticized by fans for supposedly considering [[CanonDiscontinuity the ''Prime'' games non-canon]], which isn't helpful given ''Other M'' divisive reception. However, [[GodNeverSaidThat he is misquoted]] as Sakamoto had always considered the ''Prime'' games to be canon, but only saw it as a separate adventure featuring Samus ([[GaidenGame which is true]]). He later did an AuthorsSavingThrow with ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'' by incorporating more elements from the ''Prime'' games [[spoiler:as well as showing Ridley transitioning from Meta-Ridley to his organic self in ''Super Metroid'']].* SugarWiki/MostWonderfulSound: The fanfare that plays when you collect a new item. Doubles as Samus' victory theme in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''.** The explosions when you finally defeat bosses. Most satisfying on bosses like Phantoon or Ridley.** Samus' "Arrival" fanfare can count. Especially in ''Metroid Prime,'' where it's proceeded by a long, impressive cinematic, your first view of Samus' new, 3D-modeled Varia suit, and the fanfare kicks in as the camera moves in for a closeup, then pushing you into Samus' first-person view. If you've been waiting ages since ''Super Metroid'' for another adventure with Samus Aran, that simple, little theme lets you know, in no uncertain terms, that asskicking is about commence.* MyRealDaddy:** After the [[BrokenBase base-breaking]] insanity of ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM'', many would say that Creator/RetroStudios should handle the series from here on out, due to the critical and commercial acclaim of the ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy''... all while forgetting that ''Prime 2'' and ''3'' [[ContestedSequel had their own detractors]].** The original game was initially developed by Nintendo employees Hirofumi Matsuoka and Hiroji Kiyotake (the later better know nowadays as the creator of ''{{VideoGame/Wario}}'') as a linear shooter named ''Space Hunter''. The game was not going well and the entire Nintendo R&D1 department was called in to salvage the project. Faced with the dillema of having to rebuilt the underwhelming game while still respecting the release deadline, Yoshio Sakamoto suggested to make the game non-linear and focused on acquiring permanent power-ups, giving ''Metroid'' its distinctive mechanics in the process. * NarmCharm: The Gravity Suit is purple in almost every game it shows up in, yet the fans think it looks cool on Samus despite it typically being perceived as a [[PinkMeansFeminine girly color]] in western culture (and the suit's own gameplay effects help as well). ''Metroid Prime'' made it look even cooler by making it a darker purple and giving it a blue visor and lights. Suffice to say, [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks fans weren't thrilled]] that it was changed to a particle effect in ''Other M'' and didn't agree with [[WordOfGod Yoshio Sakamoto's reasoning]] that the purple suit looked ridiculous in serious cutscenes. It appears Sakamoto got the memo, as the Gravity Suit is purple again (and is given an upgrade from PaletteSwap design-wise, too) in ''Samus Returns''.* NeverLiveItDown:** Fans like to say that any planet Samus lands on will explode at some point. To date, that only includes ''two'': Zebes and SR-388. Now ''space stations'', on the other hand...** ''Metroid: Other M'' is this for Sakamoto, considering he was well respected before the game's controversial decisions cost him credibility in many fans' eyes.** It's often said that Samus always loses her gear at the beginning of every games in some contrived circumstances, then has to get it back. It actually happened only twice on-screen in the series: ''Metroid Prime 1'' and ''2''. ''Fusion'' is a third case, in which she loses them before the game starts. Most of the time, her gear from previous games doesn't show up [[BagOfSpilling with no reason given]].** ''Metroid: Other M'' has several for Samus, but mostly angsting over the baby Metroid and [[spoiler: her reaction to Ridley]].* NightmareFuel: [[NightmareFuel/{{Metroid}} This series has its own page.]]* ParanoiaFuel: In ''Metroid Fusion'', when the X Parasite takes over your former suit, you get to see a cutscene announcing there's another "Samus" lurking in the game. It has ''all of Samus's powerups,'' aside from the Gravity Suit and ('''oh thank god''') the X-ray scope. [[OhCrap Good luck trying to play it without being nervous.]]* SacredCow: ''Super Metroid'' and ''Metroid Prime'' are held in very high esteem by virtually the entire fanbase.* ScrappyMechanic:** Wall-jumping in ''Super Metroid'', due to the unforgiving timing required to pull it off correctly. Fortunately, there is only one optional occasion where you have to use it before you acquire the Space Jump, which is a much easier way of doing the same thing. ''Fusion'', ''Zero Mission'', and [[VideoGame/MetroidOtherM Other M]] subsequently made wall jumping a lot easier. And then some difficult {{romhack}}s of ''Super'' make the timing even more unforgiving.** Any long-time Metroid player's blood pressure goes up when they see [[WalkDontSwim water]] in a Metroid game. Though this gets MUCH better once you get a certain suit upgrade.* SeinfeldIsUnfunny:** The original ''Metroid'' got this in recent years, due to the confusing layout comprised of CutAndPasteEnvironments (which was more of a result of the NES's limitations) and clunky controls. At the time, it was rather innovative, creating the {{Metroidvania}} genre and [[SamusIsAGirl its famous twist at the end of the game,]] [[ItWasHisSled which is pretty much common knowledge by now.]]*** To dig its grave even further, a remake of the first game called "Metroid: Zero Mission" not only fixed a lot of the first game's EarlyInstallmentWeirdness but many fans prefer to put Zero Mission in Metroid 1's place timeline-wise, pushing it out of {{Fanon}} almost entirely.** ''Metroid II'' is underrated, overshadowed by further instalments and sadly blamed for being more linear and empty than Super Metroid. Despite this, it was the game that brought Save Stations, the space jump, the spiderball and [[SerendipityWritesThePlot the current design of Samus’ armor]]. Samus was able to shoot down and kneel for the first time which was easier to kill some enemies. For the story, it was also the game that introduced the evolutions of the metroid species and introduced the “baby”.*** It doesn't help that, similarly to Metroid and Metroid: Zero Mission, II also got remade. However, in addition to the fan remake in 2016, it also got remade in 2017, both games not only fixing many of the issues with the original but adding a lot of new content that wasn't in the first game.* TaintedByThePreview: In 2001, ''Metroid Prime'' [[http://www.n-sider.com/contentview.php?contentid=29 had fans complaining about the change to 3D FPS]], but the game made up for it. And then 14 years later seeing the series revived with GaidenGame ''Metroid Prime: Federation Forces'' lead to [[http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/e3-2015-metroid-prime-federation-force-fan-petition-wants-nintendo-3ds-game-cancelled-1506600 a downright hostile reaction]]. * TearJerker: [[TearJerker/{{Metroid}} Also has its own page]].* ThatOneBoss: Yakuza, Nightmare, Phantoom. And Ridley is hardly a fair fight, in any game.* ThatOneLevel: The second play through of Sector 2 TRO, in ''Fusion'', is the hardest part of the game due to the plant overgrowth, lack of weak enemies, and the fact that every enemy you do encounter deals at minimum 1 tank of energy in damage (nevermind the [=SA-X=], who takes 3 of them every time you touch her).* TheyChangedItNowItSucks:** ''Metroid Fusion's'' linear progression caused waves of InternetBackdraft.** ''Metroid Other M'' is now included mostly because of its interpretation of Samus's personality. And the {{retcon}} for Adam to be Samus' father figure as opposed to the Chozo Old Bird and Gray Voice.* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: The rival hunters' backstories are this.** Not only do we never find out what happened to the rest of the Diamont, we never even find out how Spire got separated from them in the first place.** Sylux's backstory states that it has a deep-seated hatred of the Galactic Federation, hating Samus by proxy. That's pretty much all we ever find out. [[spoiler:Though its ship is seen in TheStinger for ''Corruption'', so there's a chance of developing this. ''Federation Force'''s stinger has Sylux steal a Metroid Egg, so it's likely something is going to happen.]]* ToughActToFollow: [[http://www.gamestm.co.uk/interviews/yoshio-sakamoto-discusses-metroid-64-metroid-dread-and-the-unwritten-future-of-the-warioware-series/ According to an interview]], this is the reason there was no N64 sequel after ''Super Metroid''. [[VideoGame/MetroidPrime It took two console generations for a worthy successor to come around.]] After the critically acclaimed ''Metroid Prime'' trilogy, Sakamoto's [[VideoGame/MetroidOtherM first]] attempt to bring the series to its original roots was met with mixed reception; his [[VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns second]], while lauded, still had ''Super Metroid'' to live up to and wasn't groundbreaking in the same way.* UglyCute: The Metroids are either this [[NightmareFuel or absolutely terrifying]]. Alpha Metroids get special mention as they don't look outright terrifying, unlike most of its kin (they lack any sort of visible "latching" point as the membrane the larval Metroids have is now positioned underneath its main body, meaning the topside just looks like a slug or a worm holding onto a transparent ball).** Out of the bosses, Crocomire gets this trope all the time. Kraid and Ridley also tend to get it, but not quite as often.* VindicatedByHistory:** ''Videogame/MetroidIIReturnOfSamus'' was considered to be the weakest game in the series for a long time. However, negative reception to games like ''Hunters'', ''Pinball'', ''Other M'', have had it reconsidered to be a respectable entry--especially for one that had to work within the limitations of the original Game Boy. Some even prefer its "Search and Destroy" mechanic to the "Go here and activate this" repetitiveness of later games.** ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'' was overshadowed at the time of its release by the hype for ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry1'', people didn't start acknowledging it as one of the greatest games of all time until 1996 or so.** ''Metroid Fusion'' was originally the black sheep of the franchise, with its focus on storytelling and linearity dividing fans. Now, it's remembered more for its boss fights and interesting deviations, while ''Other M'' gets the insults.* WinBackTheCrowd: There is no doubt 2016 was by and large seen by fans as the culmination of what can be considered a dark age for the franchise. After six years of no new installments in the series following the divisive and underperforming ''Other M'', ''Metroid Prime: Federation Force'' was released to disastrous reception and low sales, and a consensus amongst fans that, though it might have attempted, it ultimately failed to undo the damage done by ''Other M''. Around the same time, Nintendo issued the controversial DMCA takedown of ''VideoGame/AnotherMetroid2Remake'', and then largely failed to acknowledge, much less celebrate the series' 30th Anniversary. With Nintendo's E3 2017 event announcing ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime4'', [[VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns their own remake of ''Metroid 2'']] (which includes a soundtrack disc in retail versions), and two Metroid-themed amiibo, fan optimism has undergone a great and rapid revival.* TheWoobie: A young girl is the SoleSurvivor of not one, but ''two'' holocausts, the first of which happens when she's ''three''?** StoicWoobie: Despite that, she's very powerful and is capable of taking tons of abuse in her armour.----